I love a good tea cocktail, and this Earl Gray-infused gin situation is simple and super delicious!
I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that – apart from shrubs – I’m not big on making syrups. I like my cocktails to be delicious without being overly sweet. This tea cocktail fits the bill wonderfully!
It does have added sugar but not the concentrated sweetness that you get from a simple syrup.
Since it’s been chilly around here lately, I’ve been busting out my tea stash. A tea cocktail felt like the perfect way to add a little bit of that herbal goodness to my collection of cocktail recipes.
More tea cocktails: Raspberry Tea Cosmopolitan, Sweet Green Tea Cocktail
This tea cocktail recipe features infused gin, and this stuff is super delicious. It would also make a fun gift for the tea-lover in your life!
Just include a pretty little card with this tea cocktail recipe on it, and you’re good to go!
I was a little bit stumped on what mixer to use in this tea cocktail, so I called my Cocktail Consultant (aka my sister Amanda) for advice.
We talked about a few options, and then she suggested tonic water (this is the one that I used, but I’m sure the sort you find at a regular grocery store would work fine). She is a genius.
As always when we develop a cocktail together, she asked me to let her know how it works out, and this is the text that I sent her when I got this one just right:
“Hot damn, that is a good cocktail!”
I hope that you agree!
Tea Cocktail: The Tipsy Earl
Ingredients
For the Earl Gray Gin
- 1/2 cup good gin
- 1 bag Earl Gray tea
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the Tipsy Earl
- 1 1/2 ounces Earl Gray Gin
- 1/4 of a Naval Orange - plus an extra little wedge, for garnish
- tonic water
Instructions
Make the Earl Gray Gin
- Pour the gin into a small mason jar and place the bag in there. Add the sugar, close the lid, and give the jar a good shake to combine. Let it steep for 4-6 hours, then pull out the bag. If your bag broke like mine did from overly-enthusiastic shaking, just strain the infused gin before you use it.
Make a Tipsy Earl
- In a rocks glass full of ice, combine the gin and the juice from 1/4 of your orange. Drop the orange rind in your glass, then top off with the tonic water. Garnish with another little orange wedge, and sip!
Cadry's Kitchen
Wow, I’d never thought of adding tea to a cocktail! The infusion process sounds easy enough. I’ll have to try that! Gin & tonic is my favorite cocktail. For tonic, I like to get the 365 brand from Whole Foods. It’s only $2.99 for a six pack, but it’s made with sugar, not HFCS. I’ve gotten the specialty tonics on occasion, but $7 for 4 bottles is steep!
Becky Striepe
I hear ya! Those fancy sodas are pricey. I have a weakness for expensive ginger ale but only give in once in a while.
cookeasyvegan
It sure is a pretty cocktail. I’m not a big drinker so I depend a lot on tonic and lime at weddings and such. I was stunned when I found out what supermarket tonic contained — it’s full of high-fructose corn syrup, no doubt made from GMO corn. I found a decent brand called Q (https://bit.ly/LhuY3j), and the brand you use looks good, but I’m not sure I’d recommend any of the more standard brands anymore. Things sure were simpler when I knew less.
Becky Striepe
Oh man, I’ve been looking for Q tonic water, but the stores around here don’t seem to stock it! I agree – sometimes I wish I were blissfully ignorant about GMOs. 🙁
acookinthemaking
Oooh fancy! My husband is a big tea drinker, I bet he’d love this!
Becky Striepe
Yay! Enjoy it!